Convertible furniture.



H. A. WASHEIM.

CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, I915.

mr NnRRls'PH 'ERS co. PuomLnna. WASHING mm a. c.

onion.

HERMAN A. WASHEIM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 1917.

Application filed May 7, 1915. Serial No. 26,645.

To all whom it 92214.13, concern:

Be it known that I, TIERMANIA WAS- menu, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the borough of Bronx and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Flu'niture; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention has reference to an improved form of chair, capable either of being used to vary the inclination of the back, or of the back and leg-rest, or of being converted at will into a cot or stretcher.

The principal object of the invention is to supply a simple, reliable and strong means for rapid adjustment of the various parts, as hereinafter described.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred form in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side view of a simple form of convertible chair employing my invention, Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the hinge-adjusting devices, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a preferred form of adjustable hinge, on a larger scale.

The supporting frame, which may of course take a great variety of forms is shown in the drawing by way of example as comprising the sides 10 supported by four legs 11, connected by horizontal braces 12 (shown in dotted lines in end view in Figs.

1 and 2).

The inclined back comprises a frame 13 properly hinged to the main frame or seat, and, where a leg-rest is employed, it comprises a frame 14, hinged to the opposite end of the seat. Ordinarily an appropriate covering or upholstering is applied to the three sections, the same consisting of three parts 15, 16 and 17.

In the preferred form shown the adjustable hinges for both the back and leg-rest are made as illustrated. Two plates 18, 19, are solidly fixed to the opposite faces of an end of each side rail 10, and these plates have two holes on opposite sides of a center.

The holes in one plate are directly opposite those in the other.

Fixed firmly to the inner end of each side rail of the frame 13 or 14 (as the case may be) is a plate 20, which projects into the space between the plates 18 and 19. This intermediate plate is provided with a number of pairs of holes 21, arranged around a center and adapted to register with the pair of holes in the outer plates. The number of thesepairs of holes corresponds to the number of positions intended for the back or legrest to assume.

In each hinge a pin 22 passes through a A spiral spring surrounds each pin 22 and i presses upon a nut 25 on each pin so as normally to hold the pins in the position shown in Fig. 2, wherein the pins 24 pass through registering holes in the three plates 18 and 19 and 20 and maintain a fixed relative position between the plate 20 and the other plates. By this means the back or leg rest is held firmly at the desired angle with the seat 10.

In order to change the angle of inclination of the back or leg rest, means are provided for pushing the pins 22 and cross pieces 23 outward simultaneously against the action of the spiral springs for the purpose of withdrawing the pins 24 so as to free the movable plate 20 in each hinge.

The preferred means for this purpose are mounted on one of the cross pieces 12 as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and in the form shown, comprise a hand lever 26 pivoted at 27 at the end of a bracket 28 fixed to the cross piece 12. Connecting bars 29 and 30 are pivotally attached to the lever 26 on opposite sides of its pivot 27 and the outer extremities of these bars are pivotally con nected with the ends of the levers 31 and 32 which are pivotally supported as shown on the cross piece 12. The opposite extremities of the levers 31 and 82 rest against the nuts 25 and normally assume the position shown in Fig. 2.

When the hinges are to be freed, the handle 26 is swung in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, causing the levers 31 and 32 to press upon the ends of the pins 22 whereby the cross pieces 23 and pins 24 are moved outward so as to free the middle plate 20 and permit the back or leg rest to be swung into a new position.

' As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, my improved chair may be converted into a cot by bringing the back or leg rest into the horizontal position. Intermediate inclinations of the back and leg rest can, of course, be chosen to suit the convenience of the user at any time.

What I claim is In a convertible chair, a main frame having side rails, hinge plates provided with pairs of registering openings fixed to the end of each rail, an adjustable member on each side of the chair having plates extending between said first named plates and provided With pairs of openings adapted to register With the holes in said first named plates, a bearing pin passing centrally through said plates on each side of the chair, a cross piece mounted on the outer end of each pin, a pair oi" pins on each cross piece adapted to register With the holes in said plates, and a spring on each bearing pin adapted to press it inward to lock the hinges, a hand: lever pivoted to a portion of said main frame between said pins, pushing levers pivoted near said side rails on each side, and connections between said hand lever and said pushing levers adapted to cause the latter to press said bearing pins outward to unlock the hinges substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aliix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

HERMAN A. WVASI-IEIM. \Vitnesses KMHARINE C. M W), GEO. A. BYRNE.

Copies of this patentmay be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

